§ Sir J. LONSDALEasked the Minister of National Service if his attention has been directed to the cases of young unmarried miners who have been brought before the Courts for systematically neglecting their work; and whether, having regard to the fact that married men up to forty years of age with families are being taken from other occupations for military service, he will take steps to withdraw the special exemption granted to miners in the case of all men who wilfully absent themselves from work?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI am not clear as to what the hon. Member means by cases of miners who have been brought before the Courts for systematically neglecting their work. In many collieries there is an absentee committee, the object of which is to bring pressure to bear upon men who wilfully absent themselves from work, and, if it be to cases before these committees that the hon. Member refers. I can inform him that the attention of colliery recruiting Courts was called to this matter some time ago, and National Service representatives in proper cases apply for the withdrawal of an exemption certificate on the ground of wilful and persistent absenteeism. It is necessary, however, that proceedings of this nature should, so far as the Ministry of National Service is concerned, only be taken as a method of recruiting, and not as a disciplinary measure.